Automatic signal and switch controlling apparatus and verifying mechanism



(No MocleL) 3 Sheets-Sheet 1.

E. R. GILL, Jr. AUTOMATIC SIGNAL AND SWITCH CONTROLLING APPARATUS AND VER'IFYING MECHANISM.

fatented June 24, 189(1).

Line.

IIH

lnvenior. W R. GlZJr winesse s UNITED STATES PATENT ()FFIGE.

EDI/VIN R. GILL, J R., OF PLEASANT HILL, ASSIGNCR TO THE GILL-ALEXANDER ELECTRIC MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI.

AUTOMATIC SIGNAL AND SWITCH CONTROLLING APPARATUS AND VERIFYING MECHANISM.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 430,637, dated June 24, 1890.

Application filed April 16, 1883.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, EDWIN R. GILL, J12, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Pleasant Hill, in the county of Cass and State of Missouri, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Automatic Signal and Switch Controlling Apparatus and Verifying Mechanism, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

My invention relates to an automatic signal apparatus, and the purpose thereof is as follows: Upon any connected system of signals to be operated from a distance it is desirable that means be provided whereby any of the signals connected thereto may be 0perated independently of each other, and also to have the fact of said operation automatically transmitted to a distant point or station connected thereto.

It is the purpose of my invention to provide simple and effective means for accomplishing these results, the same being fully hereinafter set forth, and then definitely pointed out in the claims following this specification.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a vertical section of any ordinary support for a signal, the parts of the signal mechanism being shown in elevation. Fig. 2 is a detail plan view of a portion of the signal-actuating mechanism. Fig. 3 shows in plan an enlarged view of a portion of the verifying message-transmitting part of the signal apparatus, said part being a disk 51, made of metal, and the black portions around the edge are made of insulating material, and it will readily be seen that when the said disk is revolved with the apparatus a metal brush bearing on its periphery will close the main-line circuit whenever the metallic portions touch the said brush, and the said mainline circuit will be broken when' the said brush leaves the said metallic portions and rests upon the said insulating parts. By this construction the said device can transmit (when operated) a verifying-message to the operator, the message illustrated in Fig. 3 on the periphery meaning 23 danger and 23 clear, 23 being the name or number of the Serial No. 270,792. (No model.)

station. Fig. 4 is a diagram showing the relative arrangement of the mechanism of any one of the signal-stations, and representing, also, the connection with the main line or central station. Fig. 5 is a side elevation 5 5 with the casing in section, showing the parts composing my signal-operating apparatus or look. Fig. 6 is a plan view of the apparatus shown in Fig. 5. Fig. 7 is a detail side elevation of the inertia-wheel of the escapement-shaft and the manner of connecting the same to said shaft. Fig. 8 is a detail of the escapement device, showing the electrical contacts and their connections. Fig. 9 is an edge elevation of the escapement partially shown in Fig. 8, eX- hibiting portions of the escapement-armature lever, having the long engagement-pawl on the upper arm to operate against that portion of the wheel free from contacts, and thereby insulating said pawl and the lower pawl opcrating with that portion of the wheel provided with electrical contacts. Fig. 10 is a detail end elevation of one pole of the restoring electro-magnet, showing the auxiliary armature with its circuit-connecting springs shown in Fig. 4. Fig. 11 is a diagram representing the signal-actuating device applied to a railroad-switch to operate the same.

In the said drawings, the reference-numeral 1 designates a support or casing for the sig- 8o nal. The signal is indicated by the device 2, mounted upon 'a shaft 3, having suitable bearings and operated by a miter-gear 4, meshing with a second miter 5, the latter being carried by a shaft 6, turned by a cord winding upon a drum 7 thereon, said cord sustaining a weight 8. The wheel 5 turns loosely on shaft 6, and said shaft and drum have secured thereto a ratchet-wheel 9, connected with said gear 5 by a pawl 10 on said miter-gear 5, so that the cord can be wound upon the drum without revolving the gears.

Upon the shaft 3 is mounted a gear 12, meshing with which is a pinion 13, of onefourth the circumference of said gear. Rigid with the pinion 13 is a hub 14, having at one point in its periphery a recess 15. At a separate point in the periphery of the hub 14 is formed a notch 16, and upon a support near by is mounted an escapement or angular armature 17, having at one end a detent 18, engaging the recess 15, While at the extremity of the other arm is a hook 19, so arranged as to make engagement with the notch 16 only after the disengagement of detent 18 has permitted a partial movement of the pinion. A spring 20, acting upon the armature-escapement preserves the parts normally in the position described.

Located at a suitable point with reference to the signal is a device which may be termed the electric combination-lock, Figs. 4, 5, and 6, by the correct operation of which the armature detaining the signal from operation will be drawn back and allow the signal to operate. This device consists of a movable part 21, consisting, preferably, of awheel made of insulating material, having a series of contacts 22 even With the surface of the wheel and electrically connected together and to the supports 23, upon which the shaft 21 of said part 21 is mounted. A separate contact 24 is also mounted on said movable part and electrically connected by a wire 25 with the coil of an electro-magnet 26, by which the armature 17 is operated. From this electromagnet the continuation of wire 25 returns to one pole of a battery L B.

Upon any suitable support is mounted a lever 27 having an armature 28, and provided at one end with two diverging arms 29 and 30, one of which carries a friction-stop 31 and the other a long-limit friction-pawl 32. This friction-stop 31 is arranged to prevent the rotation of the movable part 21 in the direction of the arrow at when in contact, but to allow it to be rotated in the opposite direction, and for this purpose it is pivoted and is preferably of eccentrical form. The

long-limit friction-pawl 32 is arranged to come in contact with the part 21 when the armature-lever 27 is drawn downward by the electro-magnet 37, and is capable of a degree of movement between the stops 32 and. 32 normally resting against 32, thereby allowing the part 21 to move that degree before being arrested by the pawl 32 coming in contact with the stop 32. By the vibration of this lever 27 upon its support 33 these pawls or stops engage alternately with the movable part 21. Progressive motion may be imparted to the latter in one direction bya spring as used in various electrical instruments, While a reversing-magnet 35, acting upon an armature 36, gives movement in the opposite direction; but in place of a spring to rotate the part 21 in one direction I have shown an electro-magnet 34, acting on armature 36, the circuit of which is controlled by the auxiliary armature 47 of the electro-magnet 35 and circuit-connections,-as shown in Fig. 4. Upon the shaft 21 is frictionally mounted an inertia-wheel 21 to prevent the escapement mechanism from responding too quickly to the action of the electro-magnet 34. The lever 27 is actuated by an operating-magnet 37. Mounted upon a suit-able support in proximity to the movable part 21 is a flexible elastic contactplate 38, connected as follows: From local battery L B by wire 39 through a contact 40 on said plate, thence by wire 39 to lever 27, thence by the friction-stop 31 through the contact 24, thence by wire 25 through the electro-magnet 26, and then by wire 25 back to the other pole of the battery. The circuit of electro-magnet 37 is from local battery L B by wire 39, then by the split 39 to contact 41 through the armature 42 of a relay R, the latter located in a mainline circuit designated by the letter L, thence by Wire 39 to magnet 37, and thence by wire back to the other pole of the battery. The mainline is connected in exactly the same manner at all the local stations by simply passing through a relay R at each. It will thus be seen that by sending an impulse over the main line from the central or controlling station 0 S the armature 42 of each relay will be operated, and will close the circuit of each operatingmagnet 37, in the manner set forth.

The contacts 22 upon the movable part 21 are arranged thereon at certain intervals, disposed with reference to a predetermined combination of long and short electrical impulses sent over the main line. Each impulse closes the circuit of the local electro-magnet 37 by attracting the armature of the relay R and making the circuit from L B through wire 39,

split 39, relay-armature 42, wire 39, magnet 37, and wire tSO'back to battery. At each of these impulses the friction-stop 31 is'withdrawn fromthe movable part 21, allowing the electro-magnet 34 to move said part 21 in the direction of arrow (1; but as the stop 31 leaves the movable part the long-limit pawl or stop 32 engages it, and if the circuit of magnet 37 is prolonged sufficiently said pawl permits a movement which is only limited by the swing of the pawl or stop 32 between the shoulders 32 and 32 on the lever. If, on the other hand, the impulse is of relatively short duration. the frietion-stop 31 is withdrawn and allows the wheel to have a small degree of rotation. As the surface of the movable part 21 is pressed upon at suitable intervals by the stop 31 and pawl 32, the short impulse will permit the stop 31 to engage the surface of said part 21 at distances apart governed by the duration of the impulses, whereas if the circuit is continued for any, period longer than a relatively short duration the long-limit friction-pawl will allow the part 21 to move far enough to allow the stop 31 to engage said part 21 at a relatively long distance from the previous point of engagement.

The operation of the signal-controlling device is as follows: When the correct combination of pulsations is transmitted over the main line, (either by hand or mechanically by keys similar to those used in district-messenger-call systems for operating the device shown at 1, 2, and *3 in Fig. 4,)- the movable part or combination-wheel 21 will revolve in the direction of the arrow a greater or less number of degrees each successive time that the escapement-lever is operated, the degrees varying directly in proportion to the time of the long and short pulsations, as will be seen by the following description: Starting from normal position, as shown in Fig. 4, if a short pulsation is transmitted, the lever 27 will be attracted downwardly by the action of the electro-magnet 37, causing the pawl 31 to move away from the under side of the wheel and the pawl 32 to engage upon the upper side, and said wheel 21 (acting under the influence of electro-magnet 34) will now revolve through a number of degrees determined by the stop 32, which will stop the pawl 32 from being carried any farther forward by the wheel when said lever is held down long enough for the inertia of the wheel 21 to be overcome and the said action to take place; but to correctly operate the device in Fig. 4 it is not desired that the said action should take place, but only a partial degree of movement be allowed. This action will be produced when the lever 27 is held down for only a short time (which will be when a short pulsation is 7 made over the line) and then be allowed to move up to normal position, as shown in Fig. 4. The action just described allows the wheel 21 to revolve a short distance, but not far enough for pawl 31 to touch upon the first one of the contacts 22, but a little distance in front of it. The next action desired is produced by a long pulsation, and will cause the pawl 31 to miss touching the said contact 22 by moving away from the wheel and allowing it to turn through the full limit of movement, which will cause the said contact to pass by the said pawl, and when said pawlis allowed to move up against the surface of wheel 21 it will strike beyond the other side of the first contact 22. The next pulsation is a long one, and the action is the same as the last described, and pawl 31 will be resting on the wheelbetween the second and third contact 22,but nearest to thesecond. The nextpulsation in the combination is a short one, which will cause the lever 27 to be attracted for a short time only, and consequently the wheel 21 will have moved only through a short distance before it is arrested in its movement by the pawl 31 coming in contact with the wheel 21 at a place also between the second and third contacts, but nearest to the third. The next three pulsations are long ones and the next three contacts are missed by virtue of the length of the pulsations, and the pawl 31 now rests upon the wheel at a point between the fifth contact 22 and the signal-operating contact 24, but nearest to the fifth contact 22 and now the last pulsation required to complete the combination is a short one, and the wheel 21 will turn a short distance, so that when the contact-pawl 31 is allowed to move upward it will strike upon the signal-operating contact 24, closing an electric circuit, as follows: From local battery over wire 39, con-- tact-plate 38, contact 40, wire 39, lever 27, arm 30, contact-stop 31, contact. 24, wire 25, electro-magnet 26, and by wire 25 back to battery. This draws the stop or detent 18 out of the recess 15, and throws the hook 19 into the notch 16, at the same time permitting the hub 14 to turn far enough to prevent the re-engagement of the detent 18. Thus when the electro-magnet 26 releases its armature the spring 20 will restore the armature to its normal position, releasing the hub 14. The latter making one full revolution before the re cess 15 re-engages the detent 18 the gear 12 will turn through an arc of ninety degrees, thereby throwing the signal to danger or safety, as the case may be. After contactstop 31 has made connections with contact 24 the local circuit is established through electro-magnet 26. When the next pulsation passes through electro-magnet 37, the stop 31 leaves contact 24, thereby breaking the circuit of electro-magnet 26 and also making connections with the contact 45, the latter preferably extended beyond the surface of movable part 21. The circuit will then be from local battery by wire 39, plate 38, contact 40, wire 39, lever 27, arm 30, stop 31,contact 45 through wire 0 to shaft of movable part 21, wire 46 through electro-magnet 35, wire 46 back to the other pole of the battery. The electro-magnet 35 now being energized attracts its auxiliary armature 47, breaking the circuit that existed in the propelling electro-magnet 34 and making its own circuit by auxiliary armature making contact with spring 49, whereby the circuit is retained through electro-magnet 35 after contact-stop 31 has moved away from contact 45 and until the movable part 21 reaches its normal position, when it breaks the circuit through electromagnet 35'by the pin 50 striking against contact-plate 38, thereby breaking the circuit at 40 and allowing the circuit to be established through the propelling-magnet 34, as it was before.

It will be seen that when the line-circuit is operated from any point or station all relays connected to said line-circuit will be operated, and thereby operate their respective local circuits, and consequently all signal-controlling instruments will be operated in part, but will return to normal position without closing their signal-operating circuit. Now when it is desired by the terminal station 0 S to operate a certain one of thesignals and to receive a verifying-message from said signal, the re-' quired combination of impulses is transmitted over the line from O S by hand or mechanically, and it operates the'desired signal-controlling apparatus correctly or fully, causing it to close the signal-operating circuit and causing said signal to operate and automatically transmit the required verifying-message, as described, and by reason of each 'signal-controllin g apparatus being set to a different combination of impulses, all eX- cept the one desired, will return to normal position without operating their signal-circuits, the stop 31 having engaged with some one of the contacts 22-before it reached contact 24. For the same reason the makes and breaks in the main line caused by the transmission of the verifying-message will not operate the signals, their controlling combinations being different.

At the main station, Fig. 4, is located a receiver M S, of suitable construction. As understood in the art for receiving messages sent over the line by the transmitters 51, connected to or operated by shaft 3, the object of said 51 is to transmit to central station a verifying message corresponding with the position of the signal when said signal is operated from said central station. The time also may'be stamped on the message, showing the time said signal was operated. In said Fig. 4, atM S, is shown a strip of paper d coming from the register-rollers. It passes by or beneath a dial-wheel e, that may be provided with time divisions on its periphery and operated by clock mechanism and provided with a self-inking roller f, and close to the dial-wheel e is a lever g, by which the paper may be pressed against said dialwheel.

Having now fully described my invention, I claim 1. The combination of an automatic railway-switch and visual signal, and means, as described, to connect said switch with an escapement mechanism, an electric circuit, and an escapement device provided with a predetermined combination of electric contacts, one alone of which renders the switch or signal operative, and an electro-magn et, whereby said device is restored to normal position when a wrong combination of pulsations operates on said escapement device, substantially as described.

2. The combination of an automatic visual signal, an electric escapement thereon and a verifying-message wheel 51 also thereon, said Wheel being provided with a predetermined combination of electric contacts arranged to transmit a verifying-message by which the position of the signal can be determined, a second electric escapement device or-lock at the signal-station provided with a predetermined combination of electric contacts, a transmitting-key at the dispatcherstation, and an electric circuit, substantially as and for the purpose described.

3. The combination of an automatic signal, an electric escapement thereon, a verifyingmessage Wheel upon said signal, provided with a predetermined combination of electric contacts arranged to transmit a message, a second electric escapement device or look provided with a predetermined combination of electric contacts, a transmitting-key and. a recording-instrument at the dispatcher-station, and an electric circuit, whereby an electric message sent to a station automatically operates a signal at said station through the escapement thereon, and the fact that said .message has been properly received and eXelocks at or connected with local circuits for each signal, each of said locks having a movable part provided with contacts arranged. with reference to a given series of long and short impulses, a separate contact thereon closing said local circuit by which the signal is brought into action, and a device automatically moved by or with the signal and having a series of circuit-closing surfaces arranged to transmit a verifying-message over the main line, substantially as described.

. e 5. The combination, with a series of signals upon a mainline, of an electric combinationlock at each signal, having a series of contacts arranged with reference to a given series of electrical impulses, and a final contact closing the signal-operating circuit, a'movable part having a series of alternating circuit-closing portions arranged to communicate the posi-' tion of the signal at eachshift, and a register recording said message, substantially as described.

6. The combination of a series of signals upon a main line, an electric combinationlock at each signal, having a movable part provided with contacts arranged with refer- 'ence to a predetermined series of long and short electrical impulses over the main line,

a final contact closing the signal-operating circuit, a movable device moving with or actuated by the signal and provided with a series of points or electrical contacts of such length as to represent an intelligible message on the Morse system, a Morse register receiving and recording such message, and an automatic time mechanism having means for printing the hour upon the strip coming from the Morse register, substantially as described.

7. The combination, witha series of signals on a main line, each consisting of a shaft or similar movable portion actuated by suitable mechanical means, of a spring-impelled armature having a detent at one end and ahook at the other, an electro magnet attracting said armature, an electric-lock mechanism having a movable part provided with a series of contacts arranged with reference to a given series of long and short electrical impulses over the main line, a final contact closing the circuit of said electro-magnet, a movable device set in motion by the release of the signal and having a series of connecting-surfaces "arranged to represent a message, showing the ITO position to which the signal moves at each In testimony whereof I affix my signaturein release, a brush having electrical contact presence of two Witnesses. therewith, a register recording the message, an antomatically-operated hour-disk having EDWVIN GILL impression-type, and means for forcing the \Vitnesses:

' paper strip coming from the register against E. E. MASSON,

said type, substantially as described. I HARRY L. AMER. 

